Neoregelia plant named ‘Key Largo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Key Largo’, characterized by its broad and outwardly spreading growth habit; leaves that are close to horizontal in aspect; leaves that are dark green in color with distinct light yellow green-colored stripes and margins; when flowering, upper leaves are red purple in color; good interiorscape and landscape performance; and relative resistance to pathogens common to  Neoregelia  plants.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia carolinae×(Neoregelia meyendorfii×Neoregelia macrosepala).

Cultivar denomination: ‘KEY LARGO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia carolinae×(Neoregelia meyendorfii×Neoregelia macrosepala), and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Key Largo’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquely colored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2006 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia meyendorfii×Neoregelia macrosepala, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. in 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in a controlled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Key Largo’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Key Largo’ as a new and distinct Neoregelia plant:

-   -   1. Broad and outwardly spreading growth habit.     -   2. Leaves that are close to horizontal in aspect.     -   3. Leaves that are dark green in color with distinct light         yellow green-colored stripes and margins; when flowering, upper         leaves are red purple in color.     -   4. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.     -   5. Relatively resistant to pathogens common to Neoregelia         plants.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia are broader than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are more horizontal         than and not as arching as leaves of plants of the female parent         selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection         are variegated.     -   4. Flowering plants of the new Neoregelia and the female parent         selection differ in upper leaf color as flowering plants of the         female parent selection have orange-colored upper leaves.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have         green-colored leaves that are tinged with red.     -   2. Flowering plants of the new Neoregelia and the male parent         selection differ in upper leaf color as flowering plants of the         male parent selection have red-colored upper leaves.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregelia carolinae ‘Flandria’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Princeton, Fla., plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Flandria’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia are broader than plants of         ‘Flandria’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are more horizontal         than and not as arching as leaves of plants of ‘Flandria’.     -   3. Leaf coloration pattern of plants of the new Neoregelia is         more stable than leaf coloration pattern of plants of         ‘Flandria’.     -   4. Flowering plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Flandria’ differ         in upper leaf color as flowering plants of ‘Flandria’ have red         orange-colored upper leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Neoregelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Neoregelia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Key Largo’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Key Largo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe flowering plants grown during the summer and autumn in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered greenhouse in Princeton, Fla. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Neoregelia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 28° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 3,200 foot-candles. Plants were twelve months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia carolinae×(Neoregelia     meyendorfii×Neoregelia macrosepala) ‘Key Largo’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia carolinae, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia meyendorfii×Neoregelia macrosepala, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By offsets.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 45 days at             ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 to 60 days at             ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             months at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             yellow to beige tan in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broad and outwardly spreading growth             habit; rosette leaves are erect when young, becoming close             to horizontal in aspect with development; plants readily             produce uniform offsets; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 55 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 mm.         -   Stem diameter at the soil level.—About 3 cm.         -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Stem color.—Close to NN155A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,             clasping.         -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong with broad sheathing base.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Serrate, spinose.         -   Length.—About 33 cm.         -   Width, mid-section.—About 5.25 cm.         -   Width, base.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; longitudinally ribbed; glossy, shiny.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Lower leaves, upper surface: Centers, close to 147A;             towards the base, close to 148A to 148B; longitudinal             stripes, close to 154D; margins, close to 8C tinged with             close to 144A; venation, similar to lamina colors. Lower             leaves, lower surface: Centers, close to 147A; towards the             base, close to 146A; longitudinal stripes, close to 8D;             margins, close to 8C tinged with close to 144A; venation,             similar to lamina colors. Upper leaves, upper surface:             Closest to N57A; towards the base, close to 160D; venation,             similar to lamina colors. Upper leaves, lower surface:             Closest to 54A; towards the base, close to 160D; venation,             similar to lamina colors. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb             located inside the leaf rosette; about 96 flowers develop             per inflorescence.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about nine to eleven             weeks after planting; plants flower naturally during the             spring in Florida.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one to two             days on the plant; flowers persistent; inflorescences last             about eight weeks in the interiorscape and about 16 weeks in             the landscape.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Flower size.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly elongate. Color: Close to 144A; towards the             base, close to NN155D.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Sharply acuminate. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About 6 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper (inner) surface:             Close to 93B; towards the base, close to NN155D. When             opening, lower (outer) surface: Close to 93D; towards the             base, close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper (inner) surface:             Close to 93B, 93C and 93D; towards the base, close to             NN155D. Fully opened, lower (outer) surface: Close to 93D;             towards the base, close to NN155D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape: Narrowly             oblong. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Membraneous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:             Narrowly oblong. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy,             shiny. Color, upper surface: Close to 146C to 146D; towards             the base, close to 145D. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C             to 146D; towards the base, closer to 146D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to NN155D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect to outward and             curving upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             NN155D.         -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Six. Filament length: About 1             cm; partially adnate to the petals. Filament color: Close to             NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 158B to 158C.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             2.75 cm. Stigma shape: Elongated oblong. Stigma color: Close             to 157C. Style length: About 2 cm. Style color: Close to             NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 155A to 155B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed production have             not been observed on plants of the new Neoregelia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about     37° C. -   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have     been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior     conditions and to have good garden performance. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been     observed to be relatively resistant to pathogens such as Pythium,     Phytophthora, Exserohilium and Fusarium. Resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Neoregelia plants has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Key Largo’ as illustrated and described. 